Could Microsoft build Boeing 777?

Posted by bink on September 24 2003, 2:55 AM.
Posted in Microsoft Corp.

Richard Nolan, professor emeritus of the Harvard Business School, displayed his sense of humor and wit yesterday as he posed questions after being the first person named to the Philip M. Condit endowed chair at the University of Washington's school of business

Could Microsoft's very smart but undisciplined software geniuses build a 777? What about the more disciplined engineers who work at The Boeing could they build a Windows operating system?

He mentioned Windows 95 and the 777. Both are highly complex products, he said. In answer to his own questions, Nolan said that yes, Boeing probably could develop Windows 95.

"But it would probably be somewhat inflexible and would take a heck of a long time," he said.

And Microsoft?

Its engineers probably could develop the 777, Nolan said, then brought the room down in laughter when he added: "But would you really want to fly on release one?" referring to the initial version of a software product.

"But it would probably be somewhat inflexible and would take a heck of a long time," he said.